In the “community building” section of CEDAC´s project, supported by American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), 29 community representatives from the provinces of Gateri, Buterere, Rukaramu and Maramvya. In addition to members of CEDAC´s project partner, the Biraturaba Association participated in a training workshop on the Peaceful Resolution of Conflict from 4 to 6 December 2013 in Bujumbura.

The projects objective is to reinforce the community representatives and leaders capacity to resolve conflicts in places which have been deeply affected by war or have had an influx of refugees. The participants will be able to efficiently and peacefully manage disputes that threaten to break up families and/or communities in this post-conflict period. The community representatives have been able to acquire techniques and deepened their knowledge of using mediation.

In the first part of the workshop participants learnt to how to analyse conflict by considering the following points: understanding the background context; identifying individuals or groups of actors implicated; listening to all the different perspectives; and discovering the factors and trends that underpin the conflict. It was discovered that there are many differing types of conflict.

One of the participants explained how conflicts come about, saying that everyone wants to be listened to, respected and understood. If one does not listen to the person addressing them, there is little chance that they will be listened to in return. So one must ask questions, be prepared to listen and try to understand the others point of view. Sometimes conflicts take root due to a lack of information or erroneous beliefs in how to communicate effectively.

In time, when conflict resolution through mediation becomes a common and widespread practice, the endless arguments and cases will decrease in both the traditional and state court system. The decrease or absence of conflict will result in solidarity and political stability giving place to actions and initiatives for community development.

The trainer a Mr. Gahungu, encouraged the participants to organise a lot of listening sessions to practice mediation, so that the knowledge acquired during the training course may be mastered and shared. By practicing, the community representatives can strengthen their own skills before being able to transfer their skills to other members of the community.

On the third and final day, the workshop was concluded with the handing out of certificates in recognition of graduation.

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Victim Assistance

Our vision

CEDAC vision is a peaceful and sustainable developed world. Some of the organisation's members have directly participated in armed conflict, while others have been victims of conflict through their indirect participation. CEDAC wants to interlink all victims of conflict within and across borders. Our vision seeks to eliminate conflict and sustain peace by creating means of reintegration for ex-combatants and others indirectly affected by conflict.

Our mission

Our mission is to support all victims of armed conflict. We seek to reduce armed violence through job creation, as well as offering other types of victim assistance such as psychosocial support to facilitate reintegration into society.

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Ex-combatants

CEDAC runs initiatives to redress the lack of projects aimed at female ex-combatants. Read more

CEDAC values

At CEDAC, we hold our values of transparency, tolerance and honesty in the highest regard, because without these values we would not be able to survive as a not-for profit aid organisation. For example, without transparency our finical supporters, those involved in our projects and other stakeholders would not be able to hold us accountable. This in turn leads to an environment of mistrust.

It goes without saying that we uphold and value honesty at CEDAC. We believe that acting openly and honesty is not only good practice, but is essential for working in development and aid.

CEDAC is built also under a tolerance basis. This implies a high degree of acceptance for differences of races and ethnicity, background and diversity of ideas. Thus, CEDAC is an environment where contribution is reserved for everyone.